August 4, 2012 - "a few words, a kiss, and a brand new adventure"

A little photo tour of our wedding day...

The sunflower bouquet keeps the china company while parasols, fans, and clothes-pinned photos decorate the backyard..

Beauties on harp and cello meet on the morning of the wedding and become dear friends immediately. Sounds of Jill Barber, Ingrid Michaelson, and the Angel theme (Joss Whedon, not celestial) fill the house...

Suit goes on, hugs abound.. (Marc's suit from Tom's Place, Kensington Market: toms-place.com)

Father-in-law (to be) saves the bridal curls. Not pictured: the four other women in the small, hot, room. (Father-in-law is a saint.)

Front yard anticipation moments before the ceremony. (Pearls were borrowed from mother-in-law, bouquet from Lunenburg florist Svenja: tulipwood.ca, and headpiece from Pam Chorley's Fashion Crimes, Queen St. W, Toronto: fashioncrimes.ca)

In the backyard, Carla, our JP, led our simple and sweet ceremony..

Daniel and Laura led a handfasting ceremony, a Celtic tradition of union: "may these hands always be held by one another"

We asked that each family member and friend take a moment to endow our rings with their wishes, hopes and blessings for us: a ring warming. The rings we made ourselves, melting down gold from the Marlin, Tellez, Posluns, Solmon, and Young families. (Ring-making workshop, Queen St. W, Toronto: thedevilsworkshop.ca)

And in front of the people most dear to us, we spoke our vows:  “I promise to love you when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is less so.

I promise to turn to you and not on you in times of trial, to practice honest and thoughtful communication and to challenge and inspire you to be all that I believe you can. 

I will share in your dreams, and I will keep myself open to you, sharing my own dreams, fears and needs with you.

I promise to be brave together, willing to face change so that our relationship continues to grow along with us... 

... I will put our love ahead of all other joys and sorrows in my life.

With all that I am, with all that I will become, I marry you.”

.. and then it was a day of relaxed bliss.

Our photographer suggested stopping at the Lahave Bakery en route to the beach. Did I mention he was a joyful part of our day? (Jason Remai: thephotogallery.ca)

Treks through tall grass, shoes off, were a large part of the day..

Arrived at Green Bay beach, corks were popped, glasses were raised.

Smiling men, skipping stones with rolled-up pant legs and loosened ties..

Marco's family shots..

Mel's family shots..

And the first official Tellez-Posluns-Marlin family portrait!

One of the only spots I know with a pond in the foreground, and an ocean in the background..

Afterward, we returned to the backyard where Laura & Geir had made everything beautiful, and a vegan feast was served. (Scanway Catering: scanwaycatering.com - they were brilliant, and good-looking!)

Simple, sweet, with belly laughs and lop-sided grins. Our day. And hopefully, our lives. xo M&M